Cigarette machine



Nov. 23 1926. 1,608,138

F. RUAU CIGARETTE MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1921 2 Sl'leellS-Shel l @YS @JMW W10 Nov. 23,1926. 1,608,138

' F. RUAU CIGARETTE MACHINE Filed Nov. so, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 l Q0. M Q I 11 11 A i G Qo-\/i N N Q i Snowdon us Elliot/wmp Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

uan se STATES y 1,508,138 PATENT OFFICE.

FELIX RUAU, GF LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED CIGARETTE MACHINE CO., INC., F LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

CIGARETTE MACHINE.

Application filed November 30, 1921.

This invention relates to ci, ,g'arette machines and more particularly to cigarette machines of the continuous rod type in which the tobacco filler is fed in loose condition onto the cigarette paper or Wrapper in the operation of the machine; and has special reference to the provision in a machine of this type of a novel method of and apparatus for charging the paper With the '1U filler and for forming the continuous cigarette rod.

In prior cigarette machines of the type referred to the cigarette paper or lWrapper is fed in continuous strip formpast a to- 5 bacco filling station at which station the tobacco filler, in loose. form, is deposited onto the paper strip, the tobacco filler being thereafter compacted and the Wrapper formed about the filler for producing the c arette rod. In prior methods and appar .us for feeding the paper and filling the same, the paper strip is fed through a chan# rel receiving the filler, the paper being fed through the channel in flat form; and the filler is deposited on the paper While the llatter is in the flat, the side Walls of the anelfunctioning to confine the charge or C and for positioning' the same Centrally of the Wrapper. W ith this method and apparatus the tobacco filler'is Vcarried along With the papery solely by the friction at the bottom Where the filler rests on the top surface of the paper, the paper and its charge or filler moving relatively to the bottom and side Walls of the channel.V In this construction the side walls of the channel confining and therefore being in contact With the tobacco filler, exert a drag on the latter, this effecting a retarding of the motion of the tobacco at irregular intervals, With the result that the cigarette Weights vary and are not uniform throughout the resulting tobacco rod, yielding a non-uniformity in the result ing cigarettes obtained. At times the friction of the filler against the side Walls of the channel may be sogreat that the tobacco is completely stopped, necessitating stopping the machine and clearing the filling channel. 'llo provide a machine Vin which these disadvantages resulting` from the feeding of the cigarette paper in fiat form may be avoided and to provide a method and apparatus in which a uniform cigarette product Will be obtained not only, but one in whichl stoppages of the machine caused by the bunching Serial No. 518,836.

and the stopping up of the tobacco in the filling channel willl be edectively obviated, is a prime desideratum of my present invention.

In prior machines of the type above referred to, the side Walls of the filling channel are undercut to provide portions overhanging the Wrapper edges, this to permit the edges of the paper to be fed through the channel free from the tobacco filler. In this construction, tobacco, stems or the 4like Will find their way or migrate between the undercut surfaces of the side Walls and the bottom surface of the channel and with these surfaces rigid and unyielding the binding and tearing of the paper edges takes place. Some of the improved machines of this type further include the arching of the undercut overhanging portions to provide a clearance to keep the particles of tobacco, stems, dirt or foreign material which inevitably Work their Way between the unyielding surfaces from pinching the paper and either tearing it or causing it to Waver from its proper course. It has been found that this improved arching, however, cannot remedy the defect as the migratory particles of tobacco, stems or foreign material, in moving in the space between the unyielding surfaces, still cause aa pinching and a resulting tearing of the paper. The provision of a machine in which the .unyielding surfaces in the channel are done away with, With the elimination of the disadvantages incident thereto, and the provision of a method and apparatus in which the paper is fed through the lling channel Without pinching 0r tearing is another prime desideratum of my invention.

The principal objects of my invention may therefore be said to include, besides the provision of a novel method and apparatus having the characteristics and performing the functions above enumerated, the provision of a method and apparatus for feeding the cigarette paper and filling the same in which the cigarette paper is caused to assume a concave, dished or substantially U configuration, the tobacco filler being deposited on the Ycigarette paper so formed When the latter is presented to or passes the cigarette filling station; the Vpro- 'vision of a method and apparatus of this nature in Which'the paper is guided in U- shaped form through a U-shap'ed channel or guide-trough'with the paper surfaces in lli lmate rodto be obtained and in which the ultimate rod dimensions are obtained lby first reducing the vridth of the U Without vsubstantial compression of the tobacco therein and veffecting as little strain on 'the paper as possible and by thereafter compactingthe'tob'acco the U of reduced n'fidth;` and the provision of a method and p' apparatus of thisnature in Which the paper is fashioned or fed to withstandrelatively great .strains and in which the operations of filling and lorining are carried on While `'exerting minimum stresses' on the paper'or Wrapper, the Whole resulting in a machine capable of high speed With a minimum of breakdown and with the productionA of the desireduniformity 'of the resulting cigarette product. Y

To the accomplishment of' the foregoing and. such other objects as may hereinafter appeaiginy invention consists in the elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter particularly described 'and sought to be defined in the claims, `reference being had to the accompanying drawings which show a pref-erred embodiment of my invention and in which:

Figure lis a plan vien7 ofmy cigarette machine,

Figure is 'an elevational view thereof Vwith parts .shown in section,

`Figure 3 is an' enlarged cross section taken on the line 3 8, Figure 2,

.Figure el is an enlarged cross section taken on the line l-li,Figure 2,

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectionv taken on the line 5 Figure Q,

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of part of the apparatus shown in Figure l,

Figure i is an elevational vien7 thereof with' parts-shown in section, and

Figures 8, 9' and l() are enlarged cross sectional views takenr on the lines 8-S, 9-9 and lO- l0 respectively of Figure 2i Before describing my novel method and apparatus in det l will briei y recite lthe successive 'steps iniiny method and apparaitusKvherebythe cigarette paper or Wrapper is charged with the tobacc `filler and the Wrapper `v and enclosing liller formed'l finto a ccntinuous' cig? 4.rette rod.

rlhe cigarette paper or Wrapper is iirstoval cigarettes, Vas-.riay be d aired. f cia-ted with tl'iefbase 12j and VVthe channel i3 l provide the oppositely arranged clieeli unreelcd or unwound from the usual reel or bohhin and is formed into a U shape; and in this form the paper is moved past a cigarette filling station. To produce the U configuration the paper Wrapper is moved through a channel of U cross sectional configuration, the channel forming a guidetroiigh for the paper and imparting to the paper its U form. rlhe paper is fed throughV this channel with the paper surfaces in contact with the channel Walls, the paper being fed by gripping the same at substantially the middle portion thereof. lllhile moving through this channel the tobacco filler is showered by hand or by means of an automatic feeder onto the U form paper. TWhile in the filling channel the filler moves under a coinpacting wheel, the latter moving at a peripheral speed equal to the speed of the paper, the Wheel giving a preliminary compression to the tobacco to prevent it being piled up too high on the paper. The paper or Wrapper and the filler therein are then fed through a tapering channel of U form, thistapering channel effecting a pro- 1 gressive forming ofthe paper and liller and functioning to compress the sides of 4the U-sliaped paper for reducing the Width thereof to substantially nal form, the tobacco filler rising Without substantial compression in the paper. After the reduced Width of paper and filler is obtained.` the tobacco is compressed in a direction normal to its Width for compacting the tobacco to cause it to assume substantially its final dimensions. The paper with its filler is fed by means of an endless tape engagingV or gripping same after it emerges from the tapering channel, the endless tape carrying the' paper of reduced ividth and its filler through a forming channel Where the coinpacting of the tobacco refe red to taires .place and where the continuous rod vis' finallyv formed.

Referring; non' to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures l and Qthereof, the paper is first passed through the vfilling channel F and then through the intermediate or Y tapering channel T connected to the filling channel and finally through forming channel G. i n i Thepaper or Wrapper l0 is unreeledf or unwound from the usualk bohbin (notshoivn'), roller 1l being provided for guiding` the paper from the bobbin to the first or filling channel. The filling channel F coi'nnrises preferablya. base or body portion l2* pravided vpreferably centrally thereof, with a trough or channel 13 ofdisliedor substantially il coniiguration'.V The cliannel-'inay be a vstandard Agroove of semi-circular or semi-oral section to fornie'ither round or Asscplates 14 and 15 running longitudinally of' the channel, the'said cheek plates extending of ldust or tobacco from getting underneath the paper, as will appear clearei` hereinafter.

The cheek plate 15 is preferably movably mounted on the base 12, the said cheek plate being hingedly connected to the base by means of the hinge constructions 18 and 19 respectively, the che-ek plate 15 being hingledly mounted for the purpose of obtaining access to the channel 13 where cleaning of the channel and where threading ofthe paper through the channel is. `desired to be obtained. The paper strip 10, after being threaded through the channel, is guided by the shoulder portions 16 and 17 and bythek with the tobacco deposited on the U-shape-:lV

paper 10 therein.

With the above recited construction the paper is given the natural form for receiving the tobacco charge or filler. The paper is fed through the channel F as willappear further hereinafter, by a pull exerted at the bottom of the U'or in other words -at-the middle portion of the paper or wrapper, this method of feeding the paper resisting pulling stresses in a manner superior to the feeding of the paper in flat condition, the paper by this method of feeding and forming being prevented from tearing or warping as is the case in prior constructions. ,The paper when so formed furthermore holds its full charge with none of the charge or filler Vtouching the walls of the channel 13 and by this means the charge is not unevenly distributed, as in the constructions where the paper is fed in a flatcondition with an uneven drag on the charge caused by the walls of the channel. By feeding the paper in this condition a more uniform cigarette product results and intermittent stoppages of the machine resulting from the stopping up of the tobacco in the filling channelare.

avoided, Moreover, with this construction the paper is not torn when the tobacco mi- Vgrates between the paper and the channel, since even in the event that some of the tobacco will move between'the paper surface and the side wallsof the channel, the paper provides a'yielding surface and tearing is thereby avoided. The manner ofl feeding the paper by pulling at the middle portion thereof, as described hereinafter, causes the sidewalls of the pap-er to closely, yet lightly, hug the Side walls `of the channel, with the resulting minimizing .of tobacco creeping or migrating between the paper side walls andthe side walls of the channel. l/Vith this construction, therefore, the loose tobacco filler is received in a logical and natural condition, and is fed with the paper with the latter in a condition `to resist yrelatively great stresses and to withstand rela- Vmachines of prior constructions.

The paper l()l and its filler or charge designated as 22, `in being moved through the channel F, is brought under the action of a compressing wheel 23, moving at a peripheral speed equal to the'speed of the paper and its charge, the wheel 28 giving apreliminary compression to the tobacco to prevent it being piledup too high on the paper. The wheel 23 moves between the cheek plates 14e and 15,fas shown particularly in Figure of the drawings, the width of the wheel being somewhat less 'than the Vwidth of the U- shape-d paper in the channel 13 for the obvious purpose of eecting the compression of the tobacco without interfering with the side walls of the U-shaped paper 10.

After the paper and its charge 22 leaves the filling channel F vthe paper and filler are fed through the tapering channel T. The purpose of the channel T is to effects. progressive forming of the filler and wrapper and to arrive at a cross section of tobacco and paper of convenient size to enter the channel G. This size may be substantially the size of the resulting cigarette rod desired. In the filling channel F the U-shaped cross section of the paper and filler is substantially greater than the dimensions ofthe continuous rod to be obtained and the tapering channel is intended to reduce the dimensions of the paper andY vfiller not only, but tov reduce such dimensions without placing too great a stress on the paper being fed through the channels. Referring more particularly toV Figures 1, 2 and 6 to 9 of the drawings, the tapering channel T connected to the forming channel. F as by means of the securing elements 2e, comprises an intermediate section of U- shaped configuration, the U configuration at the end connected to the filling channel F being of a dimension substantially the same as the dimension of the said filling channel and the Uv cross sectional dimension of the end of the tapering channel adjacent the forming channel Cr being' substantially of the dimension of the latter, the progressive reduction in dimension being particularly shown in Figures 1, 6, 8 and-9 of the drawings. As the paper l() and the filler 22 move through the tapering channel the side walls of the paper 10 are progressively compressed, the filler 22 rising with the rising of the side walls l0, the reduction in the width of the paper and filler being effected substantially without compression or compacting of the hller, as will clearly appear upon comparing` Figures S and 9 of: the drawings, the reduction in size of the paper and filler being` therefore effected` without putting strain upon the moving paper l0 while the same moves through the tapering or reducing channel T.

The paper of reduced U cross section and he hller enclosed thereby are then fed from the tapering channel T through the forming channel G. For feeding the paper through the various channels l provide the endless belt or tape 25 moving over rollers, one of weich, 26, is shown in the figures, one bight of the endless tape moving through the forming channel G, the said tape functioning Va feeding and also as a. forming tape, as will appear presently.

The moving endless tape 25, as it enters the forming channel G, frictionally grips the paper 10, as shown particularly in Figure 7, the paper l0 being gripped substantially at the middle portion thereof and this gripping or contacting of the paper or wrapper by the endless tape provides means for pulling the paper and its charge through thc forming channel F and the tapering or reducing channel T.

After the paper is securely gripped by Contact with the endless tape, compacting pressure is exerted on the tobacco filler to compress the saine to the proportions desired. To this end is provided the tongue 27, the said tongue extending into the forming channel G, compression of the tobacco charge 22 being effected mainly in the forniing channel G. Although l prefer to effect compression of the tobacco in the forming channel G the pressure of the tongue 27 may be made to begin on the tobacco before its exit from the channel l, care being taken, however, not to cause sufficient drag to break the paper.

After the tobacco is compacted by the tongue 27 the opposite edges of the paper or wrapper arecaused to encircle or conipletely enclose the compacted filler, the paper edges being overlapped, as usual, and pasted or crimped in a manner well. known in the art. To this end the forming channel i is provided with spaced plate means 28 and 29, these plates acting on the opposite edges of the endless tape 25, the tape 25 in turn acting as a forming means for turning the edges of the wrapper or paper l0 in overlapped relation over the tobacco filler, the turning of one edge of the paper by the plate 28 being particularly shown in Figures Gand 10 of the drawings, the overlappingof the other edge being effected by plate 29, the edges being pasted or crimped in a manner similar to prior constructions.

After the pasting or crimping operation the paper and enclosing filler-emerges, as is usual, from the forming channel G, the completed continuous rod being shown in Figures l, 2 and 6 and designated 30.

rlhe manner of feeding, filling Vand Vforiniiig the paper and filler into continuous rod forni will be fully apparent from Vthe above detailed description thereof. vIt will be further apparent that with the provision of my novel method and apparatus for feeding the cigarette paper and filling the same,

that l eliminate the disadvantages incident to prior methods of feeding'the paper when combined with the depositing of the tobacco in loose condition or in other words with the showering of the tobacco onto the paper, more uniform filling results and a higher speed machine with a minimum of stoppages and breakdowns resulting in. my construction. lt will be further apparent that in my method and apparatus the paper is fed in a logical and natural manner, the paper when fed in a U section having greater strength, due to its shape, than when the paper is fed in the flat, therpaper being capable of resisting greater stresses incident to the feeding thereof, high speed operation and quantity production of cigarettes being thereby permitted. It will be further apparent that my method of progressively reducing the size of the paper and its filling charge and progressively compacting the charge and forming the rod is carried on with a minimum of strain on the tobacco paper, a more uniform operation and ni'ore consistent results beinOv thereby effected. It will be further seen that the apparatus is of a relatively simple character and may be produced at low cost not only, but may be operated and controlled with a great degree of facility.

While l have shown my device in the preferred form, it will be obvious that many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invent-ion, defined inL the following` claims.

l claim:

l. ln a cigarette machine of the continuous rod type, a filling channel or trough of l! cross sectional form, a. taperingL channel of lll cross sectional form associated therewith, a forming channel, means for feeding a continuous strip of cigarette paper through the filling and tapering channels, the said means comprising mechanism moving through the forming channel only and gripping the wrapper or paper therein.

2. ln a cigarette machine of the continuous rod type, a filling .channel or -trough of U vcross sectional forni, a tapering chanllO ne of L! cross sectional forni associated reivith, a forming channel, means for leerling a continuous strip of cigarette paper through the filling and tapering channels, the said means comprisingV an endless tape moving through the forming channel only and @ripping the wrapper 0r paper therein, the said paper being gripped by the tape at substantially the iniddle portion thereof and the said paper being fed through the filling and tapering channels in contact .With the walls of said channels. Y

3. In a cigarette machine of' the continuous rod type, a filling channel or trough of U cross sectional forni, means for guiding a shower of tobacco into the said filling channel, a coinpacting Wheel overlying the said channel and arranged subsequent to thesaid guiding means, a tapering channel of U cross sectional form associated with the filling channel and located at a point subsequent to the said coinpacting Wheel, a forming channel, means for feeding a continuous strip of cigarette paper through the filling and tapering channels, the said ineans comprising Vinecha'nisin inoving through the forming channel and `gripping the Wrapper or paper therein. Y

4f.' In a cigarette machine of the continuous rod type, a tapering -channel of U cross' sectionalf'orni, the v-U cross section at one Y end being substantially greater than the final cigarette rod dimensions and the cross section at the other end being substantially the sanne as the said final rod dimensions, a forming channel associated therewith, one end of the forming channel being arranged adjacent to the Vreduced end yof the tapering channel, an endless belt movable through the forming channel only and a compressingv 

